Suntai Writes Speaker On Return

…I Remain Acting Governor, insists Umar

Taraba State governor Mr. Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, who returned to Nigeria yesterday after a 10-month medical leave in Germany and the United States, today formally informed the State Assembly of his return.

Suntai’s letter, Our source Pointblanknews.com gathered, was delivered to the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Haruna Tsokwa earlier today by one of Suntai’s assistants. The letter may have ended months of speculation and debates on the possibility of Suntai’s deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar, becoming substantive governor. However,  Umar has maintained that he remains acting governor until the Assembly considers and acts on the Suntai’s letter. Umar spoke to Pointblanknews.com through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kefas Sule.

“Yes, we hear he (Suntai) has transmitted a letter to the House. The Assembly may consider the letter tomorrow. But until the House sits to consider and act on the letter, my boss (Umar) remains acting governor,” Sule affirmed.

We gathered that Speaker Tsokwa is expected to read out the governor’s letter to the state legislators on Tuesday morning.

Confirming the move, Suntai’s Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, said that the governor’s letter was in line with Section 190 of the Constitution (as amended). He said the Assembly acknowledged receipt of the letter from his boss.

Section 190 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), states: “In the event that the governor is unable or fails to transmit the written declaration mentioned in sub-section (1) of this section within 21 days, the House of Assembly shall, by a resolution made by a simple majority of the vote of the House, mandate the deputy governor to perform the functions of the office of governor as acting governor, until the governor transmits a letter to the Speaker that he is now available to resume his functions as governor.”

A senior lawyer from Kano State told our source that, by the provisions of the Constitution, the Assembly is not required to sit to consider the governor’s letter.

“Umar became acting governor when nothing was heard from Suntai after 21 days. He became acting governor without lifting a finger or writing the Assembly. In the same wise, the Constitution requires from the governor, in this case Suntai, is to transmit a letter to the Speaker. Umar ceased to be acting governor the moment the Speaker received Suntai’s letter,” argued the lawyer, who didn’t  want his name mentioned.

Suntai escaped death on October 25, 2012, when the aircraft he was piloting crashed near Yola airport, seriously injuring the governor and leaving some other passenger-aides with slight injuries.

Suntai’s return has reportedly altered the political equation in the state. Loyalists of the governor who were uncomfortable with Umar’s style are said to have been celebrating since the governor’s return on Sunday.